Lucifer's Heaven: A Dark Mafia Romance (FAS1)

Chapter 5: Stain

The doors of the elevator opened on the top floor. The familiar narrow hallway greeted me, the door to his room is already facing me. Tahimik akong lumabas ng elevator dala pa rin ang cart kung saan nakalagay ang mga cleaning materials. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang kaba ko dahil sa 13th floor na iyon. I don't know where Lucifer is at this moment. Ngunit dahil sa sinabi ni Lizzy na wala siya rito ngayon sa kwarto niya, kahit papaano ay nabawasan ang kaba ko. Hindi naman siguro niya ito ipapagawa sa akin kung nandito si Lucifer.

I positioned myself right in front of the door. I looked up at the peephole and breath. I know what to do with this thing. Napanood ko na ito sa mga movies. Better be safe than not. Mas mabuting kumatok muna ako kaysa mapagbintangan ng kung ano dahil sa gagawin. It's my bag after all.

My hand stops mid-air before I could even knock. Tama ba itong gagawin ko? Nandiyan man siya sa loob o wala, hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang makaramdaman ng takot. Dinungaw ko ang kaliwang palad ko. The gauze and white bandage are useful enough to cover the fresh wound. But I can still feel the pain from it. The fresh wound in my face. The face mask I am wearing covered half of it. The knife he used on me last night doesn't have any rust. Kaya nakakapagtaka na kailangan pa akong turukan ng gamot para lang huwag lumala ang sugat. Or maybe his knife has poison?

Muli ay kinilabutan ako. Inayos ko ang scarf na nasa aking leeg upang matakpan ang pasa dahil sa pagsakal sa akin kagabi. Funny how I wanted to cover the bruise on my neck but can't do the same on my wounded cheek. Ang sabi ni Lizzy ay huwag na raw at baka maghinala pa kung tatakpan ko ang mukha ko. Kaya sapat na ang face mask na ito.

My hand moves on its own accord. Halos mabingi ako sa ingay na ginawa noon matapos kumatok ng dalawang beses. Sobrang tahimik na rinig ko na ang bilis ng t***k ng dibdib ko. Lastnight I went in here ay hindi ko na alam kung paano ako nakalabas. At ngayon ay hindi ako sigurado kung makakalabas pa nga ba ako.

I waited for seconds. Tahimik pa rin. Mariin akong napapikit at pilit na inalala ang mga napapanood kong housekeeper sa TV.

I knocked twice again and cleared my throat. Saglit kong inalis ang facemask upang makapagsalita nang maayos. "G-Goodmorning, sir. Housekeeping!" I tried to make my voice sounds enthusiastic but failed. My trembling body won't help me speak properly.

I'm losing my patience. Habang tumatagal ako rito ay mas lalo akong kinakabahan. I lazily held the doorknob and twisted it. Laking gulat ko nang bumukas iyon!

So it's unlocked? Ibig sabihin ba ay wala talagang tao sa loob? I sighed a heavy relief. Siguro ay ganoon nga. He left the room open for the housekeeper.

Kagat ang labi ay binuksan ko nang malaki ang pinto. I pushed the cart inside and silently closed the door behind me. I caught a breath of myself because of the sight in front of me. This room is really wide and huge. Hindi katulad kagabi na sobrang dilim, maliwanag ngayon dito dahil sa nakabukas na kurtina. The sunlight could freely enter the whole room.

But everything is too plain. Katulad sa kwarto nina Lizzy ay wala ring kahit anong landscape sa pader. The huge and probably heavy curtains are gray. Everything around is cream and gray. Even the sofa and other furniture.

Lucifer's face flashed on my mind. I bit my tongue when a new kind of fear surrounds me. Sa likod ng pinto ay hinanap ko ang bag ko. But the carpeted floor is empty. Maybe they have disposed of my bag? Paano na lang ang mga gamit ko?

Do I still have to clean here? Bag ko lang naman ang kailangan ko rito.

The door on the right corner of the room suddenly opened. Napatalon ako sa gulat at nanginginig ang mga kamay nang hawakan ang cart. My first instinct is to really get out of here. Ngunit paano ko iyon magagawa nang mabilis kung dala ko ang cart na ito?

A familiar frame emerged from the room, wearing a white bathrobe, and holding a white towel, drying his still-damp hair. I hold my breath and stare at him dumbfounded. Those blazing red eyes caught me off guard. He slowly closed the door of what obviously the CR, without breaking eye contact with me.

He looks different in the sunlight compared last night. I don't remember what he is wearing last night. All I can remember is everything was dark and black. At hindi ko rin siya masyadong napagmasdan sa elevator dahil mabilis lang iyon. But now, he looks different from that man, Lucifer. From the white bathrobe, he is wearing and to the fresh aftershave or gel that is now suffocating my nostrils even under this facemask. He's got tattoos. I can see it marked on his bare right forearm. It's random.

I hate tattoos.

Napakurap-kurap ako. I thought he's someone else. But the dark aura is still around him. The intensity of his gaze looks even more visible because of the open lights. He darted his eyes from my head to my toe before turning his back to my eyes.

I again blinked rapidly, shaking my thoughts away. I have never been interested in tattoos. But he is quite interesting.

I'm confused. Lito kung bakit parang hindi naman niya ako pinansin. O wala lang sa kanya na nandito ulit ako sa kwarto niya. He wouldn't question my braveness for trying to come back here after last night even?

"Do your work fast," he gruffly ordered with a steady voice.

Nakatitig lang ako sa likuran niya habang siya ay nakatanaw sa ibaba. Kahit sa pwesto ko ay kita ko ang malawak na syudad. Nang napansin ko ang usok na ibinuga niya ay ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at dinungaw ang damit na suot.

Of course! What's the use of this disguise kung makikila n'ya ako di ba? He doesn't know I'm the same girl from last night. He thought I'm his usual housekeeper.

Tumango ako sa sarili at bahagyang nawala ang kaba. Pinanood ko muna siyang lumapit sa malaking desk na nasa sulok ng silid na ito na bahagyang tago sa liwanag. His feature was once again in the dark and on the corner. His body and every move were rigid when he slowly sat down on the swivel chair and opened his laptop on the desk, the cigarette is on his left hand. I'm thankful on the facemask I'm wearing, hindi ko masyadong maaamoy ang usok.

His calmness and coolness right now almost makes me think he's really a different man from last night. Ngunit ayaw kong mapanatag. Mawawala lang ang kaba ko kung makukuha ko ang bag ko at makakaalis na ako rito.

Dala ang feather thing na gamit panlinis ay lumapit ako sa sofa upang hanapin doon ang bag pero wala. I tiptoed towards the side of the huge living room. Hindi pa rin siya tumitingin sa direksyon ko. He is busy with his laptop. His brows are furrowed, lips are tightly closed while smoothly tapping his right hand's index finger on the desk's surface.

Lumunok ako nang naramdaman ang pagtindig ng mga balahibo dahil sa tunog na iyon. It sounds more dangerous and scary than any sound effects I heard from a movie. I don't really like horror movies. But Christian does. He's watching while I'm on his arms, hiding and just hearing the frightening sounds.

I again shook my head. Remembering Christian isn't right at this moment. It doesn't mean I don't want to think about him. It's just, I can't let my mind flew somewhere when I'm with this man, Lucifer.

Marahan kong pinupunasan ang backrest ng sofa gamit ang feather dustpan. I don't know how to do this kind of work. I know some household chores pero ang mga ganitong bagay ay pangpropesyunal na at iyon ang hindi ko alam.

Ngunit hindi ko pa rin talaga makita ang bag ko. Sigurado akong dito ko lang iyon naiwan kagabi. Unless na lang talaga kung kinuha niya nang nawalan ako ng malay. And God knows kung saan na niya dinala.

"Enough!" his voice reverberated on the corners of the room.

Napatalon ako at mabilis siyang hinarao, na ngayon ay matalim ang tingin sa akin. Sigurado ako na nakabukas pa rin ang mga kurtina at maliwanag pa rin ang sikat ng araw. Ngunit habang mas tumatalim ang titig niya ay tila mas dumidilim din sa paligid.

"Who sent you?" he demanded, narrowing his eyes on me.

My lips trembled. I bit my lip and stupidly shook my head on his question. He sharply inhaled the cigarette and exhaled all the smoke. My vision of him blurred for a moment because of the smoke. And then he stood up and started towards me.

"I-I'm a housekeeper, s-sir."

Again, that sound. It echoes in the room and bouncing back on my ears. That ridiculously sarcastic, creepy, and terrifying laugh. So dangerous. Nang tumigil siya ay mas lalo akong nanginig sa takot sa matinding katahimikan. Gusto kong pakalmahin ang t***k ng dibdib ko na nagsisilbing ingay sa silid na ito ngunit hindi ko rin magawa. He inhaled on his cigar again and harshly threw it in my direction. Umatras ako nang tumama iyon sa white rubber shoes na suot ko na parte ng unipormeng ito. Bahagyang umusok ang carpet dahil sa baga ng sigarilyo. Mabilis ko iyong tinapakan upang mamatay ang usok.

"I will do that same thing to you if you don't tell me the truth," he threatened with a promise.

I darted my eyes from the cigar on the rag back up at him. He seems serious with his words. He's always this serious. "I'm-uh, the, I'm new here and I came from the m-maintenance department—"

"Who the f**k sent you!?" he shouted as I jumped back again.

Should I tell it's Lizzy?

"Sir, I'm a staff here," I lied.

"Really?" his smirk makes me shivered terribly. "A what?"

"A s-staff. I'm new here and I work as a—"

"As my personal housekeeper?"

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko sa kanya sa tuwing inuunahan niya ang bawat sasabihin ko.

His personal housekeeper.

Umiling ako at tumango. I don't want to be his. Housekeeper or what. I don't want to be part of Lucifer's life.

"So you're speaking now? Have you suddenly forgotten my rules?"

Maingay akong lumunok at bahagyang yumuko. I don't even have any idea of what rules he is implying here. Walang magsasalita? What else?

"I-I'm sorry, sir. I'm just doing my job here."

"I know," he sarcastically agreed. Not in a common sarcastic way. "Now tell me who sent you and what exactly are you looking here in my place?"

I again shook my head at him, "I'm not looking for anything."

"So what about my cameras?" he pointed to the laptop on his desk.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko, hindi malaman kung anong camera ang tinutukoy niya. Nang pumasok sa isip ko iyon ay mabilis kong nilingon ang bawat sulok ng kwarto. At doon nga ay may mga nakatagong maliliit na CCTVs! Damn!

"I-I don't know. Excuse me," nanginginig na sinabi ko at agad siyang tinalikuran.

Hindi pa man ako nakakadalawang hakbang ay marahas na niyang hinawakan ang braso ko at itinulak sa sofa. My face hit the cushion. Ngumiwi ako sa sakit nang mapaluhod sa sahig. Bago pa man ako makabangon ay hinawakan niya ang lower back ko, pressing me against the sofa. From my behind, he grip my hair and forced me to look up on the wall. I winced in pain and tried to let go but it only hurts more.

"Who the hell sent you," he growled against my ear.

"I-I'm... I'm only looking for," he grasped and pulled on my hair forcing me to lookup more, almost breaking my neck. Using my uninjured hand, sinubukan kong hawakan ang kamay niya upang kahit papaano ay mabawasan ang pressure ng paghila niya. Ngunit marahas niya iyong hinawi gamit ang kamay na kanina ay nasa lower back ko, pinning it on the sofa.

Ngayong wala na ang kamay niya sa likod ko ay sinubukan kong makatayo. My muffled voice echoed when he harshly kicked the back of my knee, causing me to kneel down again. Napasinghap ako nang mas itinulak pa niya ang katawan ko sa sofa gamit ang sarili niyang katawan.

"You won't answer?" he let go of my hair and leaned closer. My cheek is pressed against the sofa while his face is pushing me more, pinning my face on the sofa with his.

"L-Let me go," I cried.

This is wrong. Siguro nga ay mali ang pagpunta ko rito. But I just wanted to get my bag back. Kung bakit ganito na ang nangyayari ay hindi ko alam!

I see something glisten. It shimmers as the light hits its surface. Ang akala ko ay dahil lang iyon sa luha ko. Ngunit nang mapansin ang pamilyar na kutsilyong hawak niya ay natigilan ako. My sob remains in my throat. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko roon at ilang beses na kumurap upang alisin ang mga luha.

"Ready to die?" he whispered and took the mask off my face. I can now smell the alcohol and smoke from his breath.

Mariin akong pumikit. Sinubukan kong pigilan ang paghinga upang huwag maamoy ang sigarilyo. "N-No, please."

I can't almost breathe. He's giving all his weight to me. At sa tuwing susubukan kong tumayo ay nararamdaman ko ang tuhod niya sa likod ng aking tuhod, pushing me down. Kahit ang kamay ko ay mas lalo niyang idinidiin sa sofa. Lalo na ang mukha ko. His growing stubbles against my cheek almost tickle me. But the physical pain I am feeling on my injured cheek being against the sofa is unbearable.

"Name?" he asked in a steady tone.

Nagmulat ako ng mga mata at tinitigan ang kutsilyong nasa harapan ko. It is reflecting the sunlight at napansin ko ang bakas ng dugo sa tip at edge noon. It's dried already but I can still smell the blood. I bit the inside of my cheek when I felt vile from inside me rising up.

JAXON

Those letters were engraved on his knife. Maliit lang iyon ngunit madaling makita sa malapitan. Lalo na dahil capital letters lahat. If that's his name, I don't know.

"Name!" he growled like an animal.

Gumalaw ang kutsilyo niya at mas inilapit iyon sa mukha ko. Gamit ang halos namamanhid at kumikirot kong sugatang kamay ay pinigilan ko siya. Nagpapanik kong hinawakan ang kamay niya ngunit napasigaw na lang sa sakit nang marahas niya iyong hawiin. So fast, the handle of his knife is now pressed against my injured palm.

Mas naging marahas ang pagpupumiglas ko. Ang mga luha ay walang tigil na dumaloy dahil sa sakit. Lucifer is watching me. His eyes darted from my face to his knife and to my now bleeding palm. The white bandage is now soaking with blood. Pilit kong ibinaon ang mukha ko sa sofa upang hindi maamoy at makita ang sariling dugo.

"N-No," I sniveled and sobbed against the sofa when he pushed his knife down my palm several times as if he is happy seeing blood seeping.

Kinuyom ko ang kabilang kamay kong hawak niya at ilang beses na umiling. This is too much!

"S-stop," I begged.

He let go of my uninjured hand. Naramdaman ko ang paglayo niya sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang braso ko and using only one of his hands, he turned me over so fast. Napasinghap ako sa sakit nang tumama ang duguan kong kamay sa armrest ng sofa. The white bandage is now gone. It is now all red, soaking with blood.

My head snapped back to Lucifer as my eyes widen in horror. He is bending in front of me, his rough hand over my neck, his brows furrowed and lips were tightly closed.

"You?" he asked confused, tila ngayon lang niya ako namukhaan. Kung hindi pa dahil sa kamay kong siya rin ang may kasalanan.

Nang marahan akong tumango ay bahagyang nawala ang pressure ng kamay niya sa leeg ko. But he didn't totally let go of me. Nagbalik-balik ang tingin niya sa akin, sa kamay ko at sa parte ng sofa na puno ng dugo ko bago tumayo nang diretso. His hand moved to touch his face. Parehas naming pinagmasdan ang kamay niyang may bahid na ngayon ng dugo. Dahil sa pagdikit niya ng kanyang mukha sa akin ay nabahiran ng dugo ang kanyang pisngi. Hindi ko na hinawakan pa ang pisngi ko. Alam ko namang dumudugo na iyon dahil sa matinding pagkirot.

"You," he pointed to me. Half of my body is lying on the sofa. "How dare you stain my room again!"

Napatalon ako sa malakas niyang pagsigaw. But I'm too weak to even move. I don't know what he meant by that. It's his fault.

"Y-You made me bleed," I muttered heavily.

His eyes turn dark again. Even darker than earlier. Tinitigan niya ako sa ganitong posisyon. He grips the knife on his hand. His other hand with blood is clenching and unclenching.

"I j-just want my bag," said I, my vision is starting to blur and everything is spinning again.

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya sa akin bago muling binalingan ang kanyang sofa. "You stain my room," he hissed.

And the darkness again took me.